Adjustable copyholder



H. l. RICHARDS ADJUSTABLE COPYHOLDER Sept. 3, 1935.

- Filed May a1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l ryIRbhmzZw "AZ Arrogivsr 5 3, 1935. H. L'RlCHARDS 2,013,253

ADJUSTABLE C OPYHOLDER 1 Filed May 31, 3.93 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 3, 1935 hlhZEB Fiilii manuscript or the like under the spring clip mem- 9 Claims.

This invention relates to copyholders and more particularly to a copyholder for supporting manuscript, notebooks and the like in readily readable position adjacent toa typewriter or on a lecturers table.

An object of the invention is to provide a copyholder which can be made from a single piece of sheet metal and one which is firm on its foundation but readily adjustable to varying positions. In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the complete copyholder and its adjustable support.

Fig. 2 a side elevation having a portion thereof in cross-section taken on line 2-2 of 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section taken on 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line l of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the line guide mechanism.

Fig. '7 is a perspective of the upper left-hand corn-er of the copyholder.

Fig. 8 is a section through the adjustable support taken on line 88 of Fig. 2.

As denoted in the drawings, numeral 3 indicates a flat cast base possessing considerable weight for supporting the copyholder proper. Screw threaded or otherwise attached to the upper off-set lug 2 of the base is a flexible conduit 3 which terminates at its upper end in a fitting 3 having a flattened portion 5 soldered or otherwise secured to the underside of the copyholder. It is preferable to construct the base i with the major portion of its weight adjacent the oif-set 2 as this renders the base stable and prevents tipunder considerable loads.

The main plane surface 6 of the copyholde'r is generally constructed of such a size as to encompass legal size paper and comprises a flat body of sheet metal having upturned angl edges 3 and 8 at its bottom and side. The top edge 9 of the surface d is downturned as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

In forming the surface 6 an elongated off-set extension l E! is provided which is bent under and up and around the opposite edge of 6. See Figs. 1 and 8. The bent end or spring clip it rests against the surface S because of the inherent resiliency of the metal from which the surface is constructed. It is to be noted that, the end of i i is out on an angle as indicated by numeral 62 and is open at its top, bottom, and side.

Adjacent to the bent portion 1 l and contiguous with the upstanding side rail 8, a lateral off-set piece 53 is formed to facilitate the insertion of ber M. This is accomplished by placing the thumb of the operators hand on the piece i3 and pressing the underside of the bent portion 9, through the medium of extension lid, with the index finger against the resiliency of the sheet metal. After the spring clip: H is raised, sheets may be inserted under the edge 52 and, when the hand pressure is relieved on ii and i 3 the sheets are firmly fixed in position on the flat surface 6 by the binding of the clip 5 I.

To facilitate line by line copying or reading, there is provided a line guide M which is slidably supported on rod 9 5 pivoted in top depending edge 9 and bottom depending edge it, see Fig. 2. The rod i5 is so formed that it may be swung on its pivot above the plane of the copyholder to permit a considerable number of sheets of copy to be inserted under it. The line guide it lies transversely across the copyholder and is slidably and pivotally mounted on rod l5. Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the section of the guide adjacent the rod i5 is turned under at I9 to slightly bind the rod therebetween. The free end of the turned under portion 59 is secured to the upper portion is by screw and nut connection ll. It is preferable to provide the bottom surface of the nut with a felt pad 58 to ensure its easy sliding on the copy. The proper sliding tension or friction of the line guide on the rod is thus easily adjusted by the screw and nut assembly. The sections of Hi and !9 directly adjacent the rod 55 are bulged to accommodate the rod and permit a slight side play and thus allow the guide to be stepped down. This action is assisted by obliquely cutting the intermediate portion of section 59 at 2%; and fiattening portion 2E2 so it will be parallel with it. The cut end of 21: will therefore act as a stop and normally support guide M at right angles to rod while permitting some oscillatory side play. It will be obvious that when it is desired to lower the guide it, the operator may accomplish this by merely tapping the extreme end of the guide is which will slightly raise the free end and permit it to feed or step down.

The heavy cast base I permits the copyholder to be supported on any convenient surface, and the flexible conduit or goose neck 3 permits of the proper adjustment to suit the particular operator. By supporting the lower end of the goose neck in offset lug 2 and also by having the offset fitting 4 directly supporting the copyholder, suitable adjustment as to height and position may be secured. As indicated in Fig. 8, it is preferable to insert two or more steel wires in the flexible conduit 3 to ensure rigidity of the copyholder when in adjusted position or when supporting the weight of a book or large manuscript.

If a book is being copied or read it is placed on the surface 6 so that its lower edge abuts upturned portion 1 and may either be placed over top of the line guide or, if preferable, the line guide may be pivoted above the surface of the book and used, When manuscript is being read or copied it will be obvious that the upper left corner of the sheets are placed under the spring edge H which holds them tightly against the copyholder and as successive sheets are copied, they are readily folded or flipped over against the angle edge I2 which will ensure holding the copy sheets out of the operators way. Here again, the line guide may or may not be used as preferred by the operator.

What I claim is: I

1. A copyholder including a copy-supporting surface, and an integral resilient clip obliquely binding on one corner of said surface to support copy thereon.

2. A copyholder including a base, a plane copy- 4. In a copyholder, a copy-holding base and a resilient clip integrally formed of the base material and normally binding one corner of said base, said resilient clip adapted to support copy sheets thereon.

5. In a device of the character described, a sheet supporting surface, the bottom edge and one side edge of the surface being upturned, a resilient clip positioned obliquely across one corner of the surface and adapted to secure sheets aligned with said upturned edges.-

6. In a copyholder, a copy-sheet supporting surface, a resilient clamp binding on one corner of said surface to retain copy-sheets thereon, and an offset tab adjacent the clamp whereby the placing of pressure on the clamp by an operator to overcome its inherent resiliency is facilitated.

7. In a copyholder, a copy sheet supporting surface, a resilient open-ended clamp binding on one corner of said surface and adapted to retain copy sheets thereon, said clamp being so positioned on the said corner as to permit the inserti'on of copy sheets therebetween from either the top or side thereof.

8. In a copyholder, a copy sheet supporting surface having an upstanding edge and an opensided clamp embracing an upper corner of said supporting surface, said clamp being adapted to support one corner of copy sheets-in alignment with said upstanding edge.

9. In a copyholder, a copy supporting surface, a copy sheet clamp positioned across an upper corner of said supporting surface, said clamp being extended under and attached to the under side of said supporting surface.

I-IENRY I. RICHARDS. 

